New York, NY – Sept. 26, 2025 --  The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is pleased to announce that the REEL WILD™ New York Film Festival, presented by WCS, will take place April 16-19, 2026, in New York City. Returning for its second year, the festival remains dedicated to showcasing stories on wildlife and wild places.

For the 2026 edition, REEL WILD™ New York Film Festival is pivoting to a juried competition. The change reflects the festival’s commitment to honoring excellence in natural-world storytelling, amplifying the work of the filmmakers and experts at the forefront of conservation, and bringing these stories to a tri-state audience.

“As the REEL WILD™ builds on the momentum of its inaugural year, we are delighted to launch a juried structure for 2026,” says Gillian Coyne, Festival Director. “Championing filmmakers from around the world, giving them a platform in New York City to showcase their work on the big screen, and fostering conversations that lead to action, is at the heart of this festival.”

All films submitted to the festival will be evaluated for selection by a jury and are eligible for award consideration in the following categories:

  • Feature Length: Conservation; Wildlife; Exploration; Cinematography; People & Nature
  • Short Film
  • Student Film
  • Emerging Filmmaker Award

Award categories are subject to change in advance of the 2026 festival, at the discretion of the jury and the festival team.

Submissions remain open until the final deadline on October 10, 2025.

For further information, including how to submit, visit FilmFreeway: https://filmfreeway.com/REELWILDFilmFestival

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